![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sacramento_-Survivors-of-Violence-Demand-More-Resources-for-Prevention-and-Support-at-State-Capitol2.jpeg\")
Tanisha Langdon, left, a domestic violence survivor from Stockton greets State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D\u2013Pleasanton) before addressing members of the media. CB photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.<\/p>\nBy Antonio Ray Harvey | California Black Media<\/p>\n
Survivors of violence, community activists, and lawmakers from across California joined forces at a press conference at the State Capitol on Jan. 13.<\/p>\n
At the event, participants from Stockton, the Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, and parts of the Central Valley called on the Legislature to prioritize investments in victim support, prevention programs, and harm reduction initiatives.<\/p>\n
Tinisch Hollins, a prominent advocate for victims of violence in California who serves as executive director of Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ) and state director for Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice, emphasized the critical need for resources to support survivors.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are calling on the state to prioritize three investments,\u201d said Hollins, who helped organize the event. \u201cFund flexible cash assistance for survivors, fund trauma recovery centers, and we are calling on the state to fund free mental health services for children and youth who experience gun violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tanisha Langdon, left, a domestic violence survivor from Stockton greets State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D\u2013Pleasanton) before addressing members of the media. CB photo by Antonio Ray Harvey.<\/p>\n
Stockton has faced a period of heightened gun violence intertwined with gang activity. Tensions escalated further following a mass shooting at a children\u2019s birthday party at an unlicensed banquet hall on Nov. 29, 2025.<\/p>\n
That shooting left four people dead \u2014 including three children \u2014 and 13 others injured. The San Joaquin County Sheriff\u2019s Office has not made any arrests and is actively seeking information about two suspect vehicles.<\/p>\n
Families of the victims, including Patrick Peterson, father of 14-year-old Amari Peterson, attended the State Capitol news conference. Community leaders and advocates, such as the Rev. William T. DeArmond Jr. and State Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton), were also present in support.<\/p>\n
The shooting claimed the lives of Susano Archuleta, 21; Maya Lupian, 8; and Journey Rose Reotutar Guerrero, 8. Archuleta, the oldest victim, was \u201cshielding\u201d his girlfriend and children from gunfire, McNerney said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that California should invest more in victim prevention so others won\u2019t be affected by these kinds of events,\u201d McNerney said.<\/p>\n
Amari Peterson, an honor roll student with a 3.8 GPA and an eighth grader at Prescott Junior High in Modesto, actively participated in basketball and youth football, including the Central Valley Hornets, a Salida-based basketball league.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son is gone, he\u2019s never coming back, and it\u2019s for no apparent reason,\u201d Peterson said. \u201cI also think how my family has been treated during this process is totally unfair. My son was a wonderful kid who was loved by his community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leia Schenk, an activist and social worker who supports victims of violent crimes \u2014 particularly women and marginalized communities \u2014 through her nonprofit organization EMPACT, assisted the families while they were in Sacramento.<\/p>\n
EMPACT works to bridge gaps within system-impacted communities. Through advocacy, crisis response, and direct engagement, Schenk said the organization addresses the institutional, systemic, and structural root causes of social inequalities.<\/p>\n
Since the shooting, Schenk said the Petersons have been traumatized not only by the loss of their son but also by the lack of resources to help stabilize their family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen a child is taken by violence, the trauma doesn\u2019t end at the crime scene. Amari Peterson\u2019s family is living through an unimaginable loss in the aftermath of the Stockton mass shooting,\u201d Schenk said. \u201cThey lost their son and their sense of safety and are now displaced and struggling to stabilize their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n
Schenk added, \u201cWithout secure housing and access to trauma-informed therapeutic services, healing is impossible. This is where our systems, and our community, must respond.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Jan. 8, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted California\u2019s overall crime reduction in his State of the State address. He announced the expansion of California Highway Patrol (CHP) crime suppression teams, specifically mentioning Stockton as a focus area, with officers deployed to target repeat offenders and seize illegal guns and drugs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have seen positive results in other key regions of the state, and we look forward to enhancing that model in Stockton,\u201d Newsom said, a month after the tragic birthday party shooting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the wake of (Nov. 29\u2019s) tragic mass shooting, our priority is the community\u2019s safety,\u201d said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. \u201cIncreasing Crime Suppression Team personnel in the area allows us to maintain a strong, visible presence, support our local law enforcement partners, and send a clear message that violence will not be tolerated and that public safety remains our top responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
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